Hardwood floors can last for decades, but they do require some restoration and refinishing periodically. If your floors have gaps, deep scratches, or they simply look dull and need to be refreshed, it’s time to have your floors restored by professionals. Here’s what you should expect during this process.
Inspection
An initial professional inspection is important, especially if the floor you want to restore is particularly worn out. Serious damage can often be repaired, so all the damage needs to be assessed to determine the best course of action. You may need something as simple as a good cleaning, or you may need sanding and refinishing. Serious damage may require replacing some floorboards that can then be refinished to match the original floor. The inspection will lay out the process and how long you can expect the process to take.
Preparation
Preparing to have your floors repaired or sanded and refinished requires some preparation. Move as much furniture and decorations out of the area as possible. You might consider taping off heat registers and sealing off the room to keep the dust better contained. You should plan to be out of the house as much as possible over the next few days. In general, it takes one day of sanding per 1,000 square feet, plus an additional 2-5 days for the stain and finish to be applied and to completely dry.
Choosing Stain and Finish
One of the main considerations when having your floor restored or refinished is the color of stain and the type of finish to use. There are several colors to choose from, so a contractor can show you the different options to consider. Polyurethane and water-based finishes are the two common finishes to choose from and add different levels of color richness and protection to your floor. The drying times for these finishes vary by multiple hours. You’ll want to keep rugs off the floor for about a week and be cautious moving furniture for the first month after the floor is refinished.
For all your hardwood restoration needs, Flooring Pros is here to help!